Most of us have a family member or friend impacted by substance use. Our guest expert, Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, shares her first-hand experience with listeners in the hopes of providing families with the knowledge to understand the process of addiction, including warning signs, preventive measures, and available resources. Chelsea will explore factors that may influence children’s decisions to use and how to handle situations if concerns arise. Listeners will discover ways to have conversations with their children about substance use, as well as what our children may experience through the internet and within their peer groups.

After Chelsea lost her younger brother to an overdose, she started Live4Lali with her mother. This nationally recognized organization works to reduce stigma, prevent substance use disorder among individuals, families, and communities, and minimize the overall health, legal, and social harms of substance use. This week’s topic is one that you will not want to miss.

Chelsea Laliberte Barnes is nationally known for her advocacy to bring compassion, justice, and services to patients and families impacted by substance use and overdose. She has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the TODAY Show, and countless other media outlets. In addition, Chelsea has advised local, state, and federal governments on comprehensive community strategies to reduce stigma and overdose deaths, enhance support and recovery opportunities, and decrease barriers to quality care.

Chelsea is also a social worker in private practice at Cherry Hill Counseling, based in Lake Zurich, IL.

For more information about Live4Lali, please visit the website Live4Lali.org

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Do your children believe that they can be successful? Children who believe they can not tolerate discomfort and overcome challenges, may lack self-confidence and self-control. During this episode, Jacqueline and Robin discuss how our responses to children can influence how they see themselves and their abilities. Listeners will learn strategies to support their children while developing skills to approach challenges confidently and view their growth and improvements as success. This discussion will also touch on the benefit of teaching our children that they can overcome adversity, as well as encourage them to try new things and bounce back from disappointments and mistakes. Jacqueline and Robin believe that these elements, when combined, are the secret ingredients to increase confidence and self-efficacy skills.

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Have you ever felt your child's behaviors were so intense and out of control? Maybe you thought, why is this child trying to give me such a hard time? We have all been there. But, as we discuss during this episode, your child may be having a hard time, lacking the skills to manage those challenging emotions.

Dr. Doug Bolton is well known for his compassionate and trauma-informed approach to parenting and child development. Dr. Bolton relies less on traditional behavioral theories and more on seeing our children's behaviors through the lens of emotional regulation and brain development. Listeners will learn how using regulation skills with our children can reduce acting out behaviors, improve family relationships and empower children to feel a greater sense of self-confidence and self-control. Listen in and learn how Dr. Bolton's method has been a game-changer for families worldwide.

Doug Bolton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of School Consultation for Formative Psychological Services. He spent over 20 years as a psychologist and principal at North Shore Academy, a K-12 therapeutic school in Highland Park. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Bolton provides consultation, supervision, and professional development to parents, educators, and clinicians throughout northern Illinois to create communities that help foster student and staff resilience.

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Have you ever wondered if your thoughts were your reality? Dr. Patrick McGrath, the Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD, an expert on all things OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and renowned author of The OCD Answer Book and Don’t Try Harder, Try Different. Dr. McGrath shares with listeners what it is like to live with OCD and anxiety, so parents can learn strategies to understand and support their child(ren) dealing with obsessions, rituals, and/or compulsions. Are there causes? Signs? Ways to prevent OCD? Listen in, and Dr. McGrath will share the dos and don’ts of treatment, as well as ways parents can assist their child(ren) in the recovery process. If you as a parent struggle with Anxiety or OCD, this episode will also help you uncover tools for your path and aid in your parenting path.

Dr. McGrath is the Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD.

Dr. McGrath was the former Assistant Vice President of the Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center for AMITA Health. formally acted as the  Assistant Vice President of Residential Services for the AMITA Health Behavioral Medicine Institute, Executive Director of the Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center, and Clinical Director for the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders and School Refusal Program..  He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and President of OCD Midwest. Dr. McGrath is the author of The OCD Answer Book and Don’t Try Harder, Try Different.

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We take a deeper dive into the topic of resilience with the esteemed Peggy Mcguire. Listeners will learn the antidote for mental fatigue and exhaustion, especially as it relates to parenting and everyday life. Peggy shares her Resilience Roadmap and describes how the nine elements of well-being can help us persevere when fighting the battle of everyday life. As Jacqueline, Peggy, and Robin share, it can be overwhelming and, at times, rather humorous when trying to fit all the elements into each day. However, Peggy shares how combining and making choices to create rituals can be a game changer. 

Robin is still searching for the anagram, and the smoke detector you hear in the background has been replaced . . . and all is safe.  

Peggy McGuire has dedicated 30-plus years to helping families become stronger and ensuring children thrive in their environment. She began her career assisting families with adoption and helping courageous parents choose to place their children in adoptive homes. After 12 years of this work, Peggy became the Coordinator of Parents as Teachers. There she was responsible for coordinating services for at-risk populations in 6 school districts providing home visitation for families with children birth to three years of age at the DuPage County Regional Office of Education for 13 years. Currently, Ms. McGuire serves as the Director of Child and Family Development - Strong Families, serving families with children from birth to age 17. In addition, they provide families with a home visiting model and parent education workshops throughout metropolitan Chicago. Peggy and her team empower families daily to set goals, overcome obstacles, and access resources. Everyone needs a mentor, and this is precisely what the Strong Families Team provides. Parents are in the most significant, most impactful leadership role of their lives. Strong Families, with the partnership of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, are uniquely positioned to provide families with many services. It is truly incredible the work that they do!

Peggy McGuire | Director of Child and Family Development | YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

YWCA Patterson and McDaniel Center

2055 West Army Trail Road, Suite 140 | Addison, IL 60101

O: Office: 630-790-6600 | C: Work Cell: 331-229-0300 | E: [email protected]

www.ywcachicago.org | Sign up for our e-newsletter | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter 

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If you have felt the impact of trauma, you are not alone. A traumatic event is an incident that causes physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological harm. In addition, as parents, we may experience secondary trauma when our child is impacted by trauma. Research suggests that about 6 of every ten men (or 60%) and 5 of every ten women (or 50%) experience at least one trauma.

There has been a lot of research and discussion around the impact of trauma on families, schools, and communities. Guest expert, Ebony Baker, highlights what school teams can do to partner with families going through or recovering from a traumatic experience. Listeners will learn critical indicators of emotional, physical, and secondary trauma, as well as how we can recognize warning signs in our children and promote healing. Ebony reviews research related to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She demonstrates how our past childhood experiences can impact us as adults in our relationships and parenting. Ebony shares insights into how our child’s response to trauma can impact parents, strategies for managing emotional fatigue, stress, and burnout, and how to seek support within schools and communities. Tune in

Ebony Baker is one of the Outreach & Student Belonging Directors in Naperville Community Unit School District 203 based in Naperville, Illinois. Ebony Baker has an extensive history of working with families in educational and community settings, acting in an administrative role as a school social worker and counselor. Ebony received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ball State University and a Master of Social Work from Univ Of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. Ebony also holds a Master of School Counseling from Purdue University.

Resources:

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Take the ACE Quiz – And Learn What It Does and Doesn't Mean - Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

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This week's episode focuses on understanding and reflecting on ways to have dialogue within the home around gender and sexual orientation topics. Understanding and expressing sexual orientation and gender and developing related identities are typical development tasks that vary across children and youth (youth.gov). In August 2014, the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives adopted the Resolution on Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity in Children and Adolescents in Schools. Dr. Shelley Fisher, LCSW, explains that parents can help their child gain a strong and positive sense of self and become a positive agent for change in our world through teaching and modeling acceptance of LGBTQ identities. Dr. Fisher will provide real-life examples from her research and guidance around misconceptions and facts related to sexual orientation and identity.

Shelley Fisher, LCSW has a Doctorate in Social Work specializing in adolescents, child abuse, trauma, adoption, elder care, and school social work. Experience in child protective services, adoption, private practice/clinical social work, academia, public speaking, and education. Available for presentations on a myriad of adolescent topics, including anxiety, resilience, school avoidance, and other mental health issues, with specific expertise in supporting transgender students within the academic setting.

Doctoral dissertation: "What about the parents? Exploring parents' experiences of transgender adolescents regarding their interactions with their child's school: A phenomenological, qualitative study." 

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During her adolescence, Emily Carrara experienced her parents' divorce and knew there had to be a better way than what her family had experienced. Her journey led her to be one of the top Chicagoland Family Law Attorneys. Emily joins Jacqueline and Robin this week to discuss divorce and its impact on families. They focus on Collaborative Divorce and how this process enables the family to maintain control and problem-solve rather than fighting. Families commit to resolving divorce-related issues without litigious court proceedings and having a judge make decisions. Tammy Hildebrand, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, joins the conversation to discuss her role in the Collaborative Divorce team that supports all individuals, including the children. Tammy has received training in divorce mediation and is a child specialist for families. This episode will provide listeners with alternatives to the traditional divorce and strategies to improve communication and repair relationships, even during trying times.  

Emily Carrara | Carrara Family Law, LLC | 100 Illinois St Ste 200, St. Charles, IL 60174 | (630) 338-1630

St. Charles, IL Qualified Domestic Relations Orders & Divorce Attorney | Carrara Family Law, LLC (ecfamlaw.com)

Follow on Facebook: Emily Carrara - Family Law Attorney | Saint Charles IL | Facebook

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Resilience and Grit are qualities that help children overcome adversity and thrive despite challenges. Learning to tolerate discomfort can be a significant ingredient in this process. Often children will comment, ‘I feel like our parents and teachers expect us to be happy all the time.’ As we know, it can be a tall order to fill, as well as one that often leads to feelings of frustration and self-doubt. Jacqueline and Robin encourage parents to look at how they respond when their child may be in distress or experiencing uncomfortable emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, or anger. Teaching children to thrive despite challenges and adversity will lead to a greater sense of confidence and autonomy. Parents will have an opportunity to reflect on their responses when their child is anything other than happy and look at the language that they use. In addition, parents will have a chance to explore setting expectations and how they are established and exist even when the child is uncomfortable.

* For more information visit us at SUCCESSFUL PARENTING (successfulparentingplan.com)

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Join us to learn answers to some of the most commonly asked questions concerning gaming and its impact on our children’s emotional and mental health. Listeners will have the opportunity to learn from nationally recognized expert Dr. Aaron Weiner, Ph.D., ABPP, board-certified Psychologist and Addiction Specialist. Many parents have also expressed concerns that setting gaming limits can lead to loneliness and increased sadness; Dr. Weiner explains this is often not the case. During this episode, Dr. Weiner provides guidance in creating healthy relationships with gaming, forming connections with our children while reducing time spent on gaming, and learning about current trends related to electronic addiction.

We discovered Dr. Weiner is a fan of Monty Python’s and the Holy Grail. If you enjoy a good quote, wait for it!

For more information. www.weinerphd.com

Dr. Aaron Weiner | 100 Saunders Rd, Suite 150, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 786-8725

"Let's Talk" - Aaron Weiner, Ph.D. available wherever you listen to your favorite podcast.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk/id1548319670

Resources: Michael Rich, MD, MPH, FAAP - The Digital Wellness Lab

* For more information visit us at SUCCESSFUL PARENTING (successfulparentingplan.com)

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* Successful Parenting Workbook, available on Amazon